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Is Global Warming contributing to volcanic activity?

A recent paper deals with calculations of glaciaI melting and consequent unloading of the pressures on the mantle — in some cases perhaps taking the cap off of volcanoes?

So is Global Warming causing increased volcanic activity? There is no way of proving this, not enough data exists. But the scenario has been seen in the past, and it is a logical possibility.

Iceland has a lot of volcanoes under a lot of ice. The largest ice cap in Iceland is disappearing at a rate of 5 cubic kilometers per year. Is this a contributor to the current eruption?

How about Yellowstone, the largest known volcano? (The journal Science reported that the caldera floor of the massive volcano has risen 3 inches/year for the past three years. This is a rate of growth three times more rapid than ever observed since records were first kept back in 1923). Hope not, it is too near, and maybe there is not that much glacial weight. And the prevailing winds are away from us.

But Mt Rainier is also being unloaded of the weight of its glaciers. And you know where the prevailing winds come from.

Plus, the global glacial retreat and the increased ocean sea level all will cause changes in mantle load distributions everywhere. The crust bends and rebounds, actions that are associated with increased volcanic activity.

Another doomsday scenario? I’m sorry. It’s the geophysicist’s cross to bear. Striking fear into the hearts of the Deniers.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..